Jamie Foxx: Oprah Made Me a Gentleman

Jamie Foxx‘s new show, From G’s to Gents, of which he serves as executive producer, aims to turn streetsavvy guys from the hood into refined gentlemen — something the actor knows a thing or two about very well.

For his own transformation, the 40-year-old didn’t rely on a reality show or Fonzworth Bentley (From G’s to Gents‘ host), but rather on Oprah Winfrey. It was because of the talk-show maven that Jamie says he won his Best Actor Oscar for Ray in 2005.

"Oprah Winfrey said, ‘Before they give the Oscar out, there’s a certain way you have to campaign and carry yourself,’" he tells OK!. "Being a comedian, [I was] sort of looking at everything as like, ‘Oh, it’s a joke,’ and she said, ‘No, you really need to take it seriously,’ and she took me and introduced me to Sidney Poitier and all these other different actors. I had to change.”

When the Big O tells you to change, you change! Now, Jamie hopes to teach other cocky guys the same life lessons.